Aripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic drug, improves maturation and complexity of neuroblast dendrites in the mouse dentate gyrus via increasing superoxide dismutases

Neurochem Res. 2013 Sep;38(9):1980-8. doi: 10.1007/s11064-013-1104-2. Epub 2013 Jul 9.

Abstract

Apripiprazole (APZ) is well known as an atypical antipsychotic and antidepressant. In the present study, we investigated effects of APZ on cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the adolescent mouse using BruU, Ki-67 and doublecortin (DCX) immunohistochemistry. BruU, Ki-67 and DCX-positive (+) cells were easily detected in the subgranular zone of the DG in the vehicle- and APZ-treated group. We found that in the 8 mg/kg APZ-treated group numbers of Ki-67(+), DCX(+) and BrdU(+)/DCX(+) cells were significantly increased compared with those in the vehicle-treated group. We also found that maturation and complexity of DCX(+) dendrites in the 8 mg/kg APZ-treated group was well improved compared with those in the vehicle-treated group. In addition, markedly decreased lipid peroxidation and increased superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) level were observed in the DG of the 8 mg/kg APZ-treated group. Our present findings indicate that APZ can enhance cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation, particularly maturation and complexity of neuroblast dendrites, in the DG via decreasing lipid peroxidation and increasing SOD2 level.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Aripiprazole
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Dentate Gyrus / cytology
  • Dentate Gyrus / drug effects*
  • Dentate Gyrus / enzymology
  • Doublecortin Protein
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Quinolones / pharmacology*
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Dcx protein, mouse
  • Doublecortin Protein
  • Piperazines
  • Quinolones
  • Aripiprazole
  • Superoxide Dismutase